TOWARDS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF BRAZILIAN PAYMENTS FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PROGRAMS

Abstract

Payment for Environmental Services (PES) programs have emerged as a crucial instrument for addressing environmental degradation and advancing sustainable development. However, despite the expansion of PES programs in Brazil, a significant dearth of comprehensive literary information persists regarding the subject. The objective of this thesis was to guide the effective management of programs already implemented and serve as a basis for the development of new programs, through information collected based on the experiences of existing PES programs and perceptions of participating rural landowners. The overview of PES programs developed in the country has allowed us to discern the existence of 80 programs, with the majority focused on enhancing both water quantity (91.25%) and quality (85.00%).The main activities implemented were the conservation and restoration of native vegetation (83.56%) and had significant results in the generation of ecosystem services. However, 40.91% of respondents said they do not monitor environmental indicators. There is a significant concentration of programs in the Atlantic Forest biome (56.25%), especially in the southeastern region of the country (70.00%), while biomes such as the Pantanal and the Pampa do not have PES programs yet. The principal contributors include municipal governments (90.79%) and the National Water Agency (76.32%), who are notably the most engaged partners. Furthermore, we emphasize the significance of ensuring the satisfaction of landowners for the proper functioning of PES programs. Our observations revealed that a majority of participants in the Manancial Vivo project became acquainted with it through discussions with fellow landowners (64.30%) and demonstrated dissatisfaction with access to information. Access to technical training has been an obstacle for the project and 71.40% of respondents did not have access to it. The predominant factors that influence the landowners' desire to participate in the project are environmental (85.70%) and economic (71.40%), but 78.60% reported that they are not receiving payments for environmental services. As such, the longevity of the project is being affected by a lack of confidence in government feedback. Considering these findings, it is evident that an improved distribution of resources and PES programs across the Brazilian landscape is imperative, in addition to that, adequate monitoring of programs, inclusion of potential buyers, increased investment in project dissemination, training and technical support, enhanced communication between program managers and landowners, as well as the integration of inclusive policies and environmental education. These combined efforts are crucial for formulating PES programs that effectively balance environmental, economic, and social development objectives.